Detroit Tigers sign veteran left-hander Derek Holland to minors deal

Detroit Tigers General Manager (GM) Al Avila continues his offseason trend by signing left-hander Derek Holland to a minor league deal that includes an invite to Spring Training.

These types of deals are becoming far too familiar for Detroit Tigers fans in 2021.  It seems the organization isn’t just nickel and diming their way through another offseason; they’re simply adding recycled goods with limited upside.

Whether it’s adding starting pitchers Jose Urena and Erasmo Ramírez or relievers Robbie Ross Jr or Ian Krol, or catcher Dustin Garneau the Detroit Tigers seem content adding depth players, almost not trying to compete in 2021.

Derek Holland is a left-handed arm that can be utilized both as a spot-starter or more likely being utilized out of the bullpen if he can make the big league club coming out of camp.

Holland brings with him 12 years of big-league experience to a fairly youthful Detroit Tigers roster.

The veteran lefty has not been a regular in a starting rotation since 2018, when he made 30 starts as a member of the San Francisco Giants.  After spending eight years with the Texas Rangers to start his career, Holland has bounced around of late spending time with the Giants, Cubs, Pirates, and White Sox.

During last year’s COVID-19 shortened season, Holland spent with the Pirates pitching to a 1-3 record with an awful 6.86 ERA and 1.402 WHIP.

Holland is best known for helping the Rangers reach and win the American League pennant back in 2011, in fact, going through the Detroit Tigers in the postseason.  Holland posted a 16-5 record that year for the Rangers as a starter.

The 34-year old will hope to earn a bullpen, situational lefty role with the Detroit Tigers in 2021. Holland has a career record of 79-81, posting a 4.61 ERA and 1.373 WHIP, to go with 1,190 strikeouts and 513 bases on balls.